A touch of simplicity

Ethnic splendour at its best

Kavita and her husband Anil Achpal’s strong points are their creative designs and competitive pricing. As a designer, Kavita plays around with motifs and brocades to make every garment look unique and classy. Her popularity can be attributed to her customisation — she tailors every garment to suit the wearer’s taste. 

Clearly, Kavita’s collection of salwar kurtas and anarkalis are for those who are willing to experiment and mix and match. The emphasis is on Indian designs and cuts and Kavita is clear when she says, “I don’t believe in blending western cuts with Indian designs. I want to popularise Indian clothes and designs. I pick vibrant colours and the embroidery on each salwar is kept simple without going overboard.”

The collection is just perfect for work wear, college or even for a party or family get together. “There are no restrictions and the collection gives you the freedom of choice. I design for all ages, right from 16 to 60 years. The cuts and designs are not very common and I try to lend an unusual look and feel to every garment,” she says.

Kavita stocks a wide range of salwar kurtas, kalis and anarkalis in bright colours. The work on the kurtas is simple yet elegant. “Some of the kurtas have simple threadwork on them, while others have embroidery on the edges. There are a few garments that are custom-made according to one’s requirement,” she adds. 

All of Kavita’s clothes are made of pre-shrunk fabric. “We always make sure the cloth is washed before it is worked upon. The colour doesn’t run in the first wash and the garment doesn’t shrink. The fabrics are all soft and light-weight. That’s our unique selling proposition,” she emphasises. 

Kavita feels that footwear and accessories play an important part in enhancing the look of any garment. “When there’s work around the neckline, a pair of chunky earrings would be good. You could play around with junk jewellery when wearing a simple kurta. This will more than make up for the simplicity,” she adds. And Kavita says that contrast footwear works best with every garment. 

Kavita’s collection is priced between Rs 350 and Rs 1,000. “The idea is to make every garment stylish yet affordable,” she sums up.  Samyukta Anagol, Class XI, Business, Mallya Aditi School, slipped into a hand-block printed formal kurta and matched it with red leggings. 

Punchline: “This kurta has the perfect mix of traditional style and a modern touch. I particularly like the bandani collar. It’s unusual and quite different from what you get in the market.”
Price: Kurta (Rs 750) and leggings (Rs 250). 
Kalpa Viswanadhan, Class XI, Science, Mallya Aditi School, wore a casual blue kali with matching leggings. 

Punchline: “The colour is gorgeous and the kurta fits well. This outfit is perfect for an evening out. With some accessories, it could double up as a day wear as well.” Price: Kurta (Rs 650) and leggings (Rs 250).
Juleika Janice D’souza, III year BA, Mount Carmel College, picked up a casual printed pashmina kurta and matched it with orange leggings. 

Punchline: “The outfit is simple, elegant and casual. It’s comfortable and presentable for any occasion. The black and white print with the contrasting orange leggings give it a youthful feel.”Price: Pashmina kurta (Rs 600) and leggings (Rs 250).

Saniya Haseeb, II PUC, Mount Carmel College, wore a blue and white printed long anarkali with embroidery on the edges. 

Punchline: “This is an exquisite outfit with nice floral print and a multi-coloured border. There’s a calmness and somberness about the garment which makes it perfect for daily wear.” Price: Anarkali (Rs 1,300) and leggings (Rs 250).

Suvinda G, Final Year MTech (CS), CMRIT, picked up a cotton-linen blue kurta with wool work on it. She paired it with yellow colour leggings. 

Punchline: “The most striking part of the outfit is the combination of royal blue and yellow. It is just perfect for any occasion because of its Indo-western cut. It has an ethnic touch but is trendy.” Price: Kurta (Rs 750) and legging (Rs 250). Are you a college student and want to model for Metrolife’s ‘Haute Style’?  Do you have any fashion tips for the season? Or you simply want to say something about our feature ‘Haute Style’? Send your emails with contact number to: metrolife@­deccanherald.co.in or [e-mail]